Wood storage
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Seems like more work, plus the other way you can lean it up against the wall. You're in termite country though.
At first glance it seems like a good spot but I don't like keeping my stacks that close to the house. When wood is first stacked there's usually various bugs on/in the wood and I don't want them finding their way to my house lumber. It would probably be a good spot to put wood that's seasoned and ready to burn come winter time.
My "wood shed" is under my deck. House was built in '96 & it's been working great since '97. Origonally sand under the deck, now 3/4 gravel with pallets and plywood to catch all the dirt, so it's much easier to sweep up. I season at the edge of the yard / tree line but move it under the deck in the fall. I always spread a border of "critter death" around the foundation every year to keep the bugs away from the house.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b398/Mustash29/Firewood/DCP00731.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b398/Mustash29/Firewood/DCP00731.jpg
red oak
Minister of Fire
That looks very similar to the area under my deck. I store wood under there in the winter but not year-round. I worry about bugs, and I like to store it where it can get more sun and air. Also during warm weather my kids store a lot of their outdoor toys in that location.
My father had a setup like this. He put a double door in so he could fill a wheelbarrel and roll it right into the basement. He also put roofing material under the deck and sloped it so rainwater would not drip onto the wood.
Why can't you stack it somewhere else, more favorable, for seasoning; than move it under the deck just prior to heating season? Sounds kinda redundant handling it again and again, but Mrs. Creek would probably be more appreciative of keeping that area less cluttered all summer.
Soundchasm
Minister of Fire
I did approximately the same under a carport. It is literally the greatest thing to be able to load a wheelbarrow and drive it over to the downstairs stove. I'll put a tarp over it in the winter when the snow blows. Insects aren't a problem, and once a year it's empty and clean, so no termites. However, mice do love it. You'll still want to keep it off the ground so no water accumulates under the stacks. I think it will work great.
another suggestion not to "season" wood there but to move dry wood there for winter storage. Year round and you'll have all sorts of bugs too close to your house - carpenter ants included - and you don't want them. Winter time you don't have to worry about bugs but you will make a nice place for lots of mice.
That's pretty much the same set up I have at our new house - and I intend to make that into dry winter storage as well. I already have the double doors that lead into a room with a concrete floor so it's a natural for winter wood storage.
I'll rig one or two of these bucket mouse traps, filled with RV antifreeze to keep the rodents from getting too comfy. I've got a whole lot of mice and squirrels here. We're surrounded by hickory trees and the living is way too easy for them little bastidges. On the bright side - the mice are the reason our two "resident" barred owls stay here year 'round.
That's pretty much the same set up I have at our new house - and I intend to make that into dry winter storage as well. I already have the double doors that lead into a room with a concrete floor so it's a natural for winter wood storage.
I'll rig one or two of these bucket mouse traps, filled with RV antifreeze to keep the rodents from getting too comfy. I've got a whole lot of mice and squirrels here. We're surrounded by hickory trees and the living is way too easy for them little bastidges. On the bright side - the mice are the reason our two "resident" barred owls stay here year 'round.
Great place to stack wood in the fall and winter but not for seasoning. To dry wood it needs to be out in the open and then, of course, there is the bug situation. In addition, many times after stacking wood, bees like to come around. Do you want that near a door then?
For us, we stack out in the open then in October, we move enough for the winter into the barn. A little extra work but well worth it.
I was under the impression you had to keep it out of the rain at all costs no? I can keep it out in a pasture we have by a fence row, but its in the open.
In your area, it might be a good idea to top cover it right after stacking just because you get lots of rain. Here, we stack it in the spring but do not top cover it until usually around December 1. We feel this allows for better evaporation and the most of this happens in that first summer and fall. Then we top cover before the snow piles up and leave it for a few years. Then in October we move 2.5 - 3 cord into the barn and that is what we will burn in the winter.
In wet areas, yes, it can be good to top cover it but remember if it is sitting out in the wind, that is still the best way to dry it. Air circulation is the key.
For top covering, we like to use galvanized roofing but we have quite a bit of old roofing we've scrounged. Tarps can work but are not the best and they can get torn and look terrible and also do a poor job of keeping rain out. Yet, we've seen some very good stacks covered only with tarps. Usually these have some solid covering and then covered with the tarp. Also it has to be tied tight to keep the wind from blowing it off. One fellow used clear plastic on top of plywood and it worked well.
Just remember, top cover only. Not the sides or the ends. Don't worry about rain hitting the sides of the piles. That water will run off and usually dry within 24 hours. The wood will not soak it up....unless the wood is punky which means it is not very good wood anyway.
jatoxico
Minister of Fire
In your pics the bottom of the posts and a spot or two on the house look mossy/moldy. If that's the case I wouldn't try to dry there. Winter storage maybe.
Thats good info to know! Thats what i was looking for....out to the pasture it is...
jatoxico
Minister of Fire
Not only because the wood won't dry well there but for the houses' sake, you would be adding a ton of moisture to the area. Check out this chart that includes wet and dry weight of different species (cotton wood and buckeye
). http://forestry.usu.edu/htm/forest-products/wood-heatingLooking at the moss growing on the deck overhead etc I don't think the wood would dry well there at all and you'll make your moisture/moss problem worse.
Better off out in the open off the ground using pallets or on gravel. Top cover will help but not essential at least until you are ready to burn.
Hills Hoard
Minister of Fire
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